Fish lure



Oct. 7, 1952 H. A. KUEHNEL 2,512,717

FISH LURE Filed March 7, 1949 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 INVEN TOR. HEA/ PY A.KUEHNEL ,4 True/v5 y- Oct. 7, 1952 H. A. KUEHNEL 2,612,717

FISH LURE Filed March 7, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. /ZBVRYA. UHNELPatented Dot. 7, 1952 UNITED: STATES PATENT OFF-ICE v v FISH LURE Hem-y-A. Kuehnel, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application March 7, 1949. Serial N 0. 79,985

This invention relates to fish lures. The'invention is directedparticularly to lures of the type having an irregular movement the waterand has, as a primary object, toprovide an improved means for producinga spinning orwaving or irregularly moving effect. Another object is toprovide a lure having a body member that is extremely inexpensive. Inthis respect, the invention contemplates utilizing an object found innature, namely-asea shell, as the body member of a fish lure, andutilizing the outer lip thereof as a vane for causing the lure to spinor have an irregular motion in the water.

A further object is to provide a fish lure of improved appearance.Another object is to provide a lure having a surface finish which willnot deteriorate with age.

A further object is to provide a lure having an Fig. 5 is a side view ofthe lure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of 2a lure embodying another modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a lure embodying another modification of theinvention;

Fig. 8 is a rear end section-a1 view of the same taken on the line 88 ofFig. 7;,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a lure embodying another modified form of theinvention;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a lure embodying another modified f-orm of theinvention;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a lure embodying another modified form of theinvention;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view of the lure of Fig. 12, taken onthe line IZ-F-IZ of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view-of the same, taken on the linel|3l3 of Fig-1'2.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, .1 haveshown therein as one embodimentof my inventionfafish lure of the fly type -comprisin,g .,a body mem- Ivr 1, W n s 8, tail 9 and amounting shaft M. The wings 8 and tail 9(which-may :bereferred to generically as the feather-s? nit-the lure)are 17 Claims,- (o1. 4s 42.14)-

2 constructed from stifffibresv that will not be.- come limp in thewater. I findthat nylon or synthetic plastic fibres of the type used fortooth brushes are ideally suited to this purpose. Such fibres may beobtained in various colours. and the invention contemplates the use ofthis material as the pref-erred material forthe Wings and. tail.However, it is to be understood thatother materials, such as bristles ornatural feathers, may be employed. 1

The plastic is a preferred material. secured in many different colours,and the invention thereby utilizes variouszcolours in pro.- ducing luresof highly attractive. appearance. Thenatural feathers employed in thelure. of Fig. 3. may bev parakeet feather-s having natural colouring inmanyxdifferent colours.

The wings 8 are passedthroughthe body, I from side to side, throughopenings H therein as in Fig. 12, and are fanned out, and bentsulficiently to give them a permanent set in the fanned positions,"whereby .they are fan shaped. The same may be observed with respect totail 9. The fibres of tail 9, are secured-in the gap I3 between theinner portion of the rear endof the body and the. outer lip l-Z thereof.They may be secured iniplace by applying adrop of.

cement to their one end, inserting these ends in the gap l3, incontact'with the allowing the cement to set.

Inthe form of the 'inavent'ion shown in Figs. 1 and .2, shaft l4 extendsthrough openings 1:5 and 16. in the r sp ctive ends of the body 7..havin at one end :aneye H jor the a-ttachmentof'a leader, and having-atits other end a small eye substantially :at the "longitudinal axis ofthe shell.

- The shells have a naturalipolish and .a multicoloured finish, often in.pastelmQlours; which gives the finished lure a very attractive app 1 8and m kes it unneces ary "to subject it to any paint r nam-ellinoperation as :iscusith the destruc ion; oi the shell; i self..

It can be lip. 12 and I The body I utilizes preferably a mollusk shellof the species Olividae, of elongated ovate form, spiral in crosssection, and with the lip l2 forming the outer terminus of the spiraland extending generally tangentially from the inner portion of the body.This species of mollusk shell is commonly referred to as an olive. Inits natural shape, it has a fine polish and is usually beautifullycoloured and marked. Thus the shell in its natural state provides abrightly coloured finish which excels the artificial finishes ordinarilyapplied to the bodies of fish lures. Consequently, it is unnecessary toutilize any finishing step in the manufacture of my improved fish lure,nor to undertake the expense of dies, etc., and expense iscorrespondingly greatly reduced.

In order topreserve the finish of the shell, I utilize shells with thelive mollusks in them, immerse them in fresh water for a periodsuflicient to kill the mollusk (I find that a half hour will usually beample time for this purpose). I then remove the animal by forcing airthrough the opening 5, which has been previously bored in the large endof the shell. After this treatment, the finish remains permanent andunfading, whereas the finish on shells of mollusks, which die in nature,become dull and faded.

Fig. 3 illustrates how natural feathers 8a may be employed for thewingsof a fiy instead of the fibres 8. Fig. 3 also illustrates the use of aswivel 28 connected to the forward end of the shaft Ida. In this case,the entire lure including shaft; I la and hooks 2| will tend to rotateon the swivel 2D. The winged fiiesshown in Figs. 1 and 3 will notordinarily rotate,'but will have an undulating or irregular movement inthe water as the result of the rotative torque.

Fig. 4 illustrates how a novel design incorporat ing conical wings canbe embodied in a fly having the invention incorporated therein. Theconical Wings 81) are formed bypassing a number of fibres throughopenings lb in opposite sides of the shell 12), and then spreading themto conical form. When thus spread, the wings 8b are adapted to beretained securely in the openings ||b because of the conical shape ofthe wings which resist pulling of the fibres through the openings. 1

Fig. 6 illustrates a lure simulating a dragon fiy.

' In this case, a plurality of the shells 1c, id, Fe

and If are linked together by chain links Mceach passing through arespective shell. A gang of hooks 2| is secured to an eye l8 on the lastlink. Other hooks may be secured to other links. A swivel member 20 issecured to an eye on the foremost chain link I40; Wings 8c are mountedon the body 10 in the same manner as in Fig..1.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate a lure having no feathers, comprising simply abody To mounted for freerotation on a shaft |4g extending therethroughlongitudinally. The shaft has at its forward end an eye I! forattachment to a leader, and at its rear end an eye l8 to which isattached a gang of hooks 2|. The shaft |4g passes through an opening ISdrilled through the forward end of the body'lg and a C-shapedopening |gat the tail end of the body, formed by grinding off the tail tip(indicated in dotted lines at 22). ofI-the natural shell.

Fig. 9 illustratesa series of body members lb, 722 and 19 mounted onshafts Hlh, li and is linked together, to a leader swivel 2U, and' to agang ofhooks 2|, by means of eyes ll and l8 respectively. The bodymembers 7h, 12' and "H 'will rotate on their respective shafts, and theentire lure may rotate on swivel 20.

Fig. 10 illustrates a lure in which feathers 87s are passed throughopenings I in body He, bentrearwardly and bound together by a bind 23 soas to project rearwardly. A gang of hooks 2| is anchored to the'rear endof shaft Mic on which body He is mounted.

Fig. 11 illustrates a lure similar to that of Fig. 10, exceptthat"feathers 8| are bent rearwardly without being bound together.

Figs. 12 and 13, which show sectional views of Fig. 11, illustrates thegeneral principles of construction'of all of the winged lures, with theexception that the rear bearing opening |5| for shaft MI is anopen-sided recess as in Figs. 7 and 8, instead of the drilled opening l5of Figs. 1 and 2.

The winged lures of Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6, 10 and 11 will fioat on thesurface when pulled in the water, whereas the lures of Figs. 7 and 9will travel below the surface when drawn through the water.

The body members id, 1e and If ofFig. 6, lg of Fig. 7 and 111., ii andlgi of Fig. 9 will rotate, whereas the winged lures of Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6,10 and 11 will undulate.

I claim: 7

1. In a fish lure, a body comprising a mollusk shell of the Olividaespecies, generally of elongated ovate form, spiral in cross section andhaving a lip projecting at an acuteangle to the 0pposing portion of thebody, a leader fitting at the forward end of said body, having a swivelconnection therewith, a'hook connection at the rear end of said body andwings secured to and projecting from said body.

. 2. A lure as. defined in claim 1, wherein said wings comprisebristle-like fibres.

3.:A lure as defined in claim 1, wherein said wings comprisebristle-like fibres of synthetic plastic material.

4. A lure as defined in claim 1, wherein said wings consist in naturalfeathers.

5. In a fish lure, a body comprising a mollusk shell of the Olividaespecies, generally of elongated ovate form, spiral in cross section andhaving a lip projecting at an acute angle to the opposing portion of thebody, a leader fitting at the forward end of said body having a swivelconnection with said body, a hook connection at the rear end of saidbody, and decorate appendages secured to and projecting from said body,said lip functioning in the water as a vane tending to rotate said bodyin the water and resulting in an irregular motion in the water.

6. In a fish lure, a body comprising a single mollusk shell of theOlividae species, generally of elongated ovate form, spiral in crosssection and having a lip projecting at an acute angle to the opposingportion of the body, said body having openings extending transverselytherethrough and a plurality of bristle-like elements extendingthroughsaid openings and secured therein, proj ecting from therespective sides ofthe body and fanned out to provide simulated wings, aleader fitting'at the forward end of said body, having a swivelconnection with said body, and a hook connection on the'rear end of saidbody.

. 7. In a fish-lure, a body consistin in a mollusk shell, generally ofelongated ovate form, spiral in cross section and having a lipprojecting at an acute angle to the opposing portion of the body, saidbody having openings extending transversely therethrough and a pluralityof bristle-like elements extending through said openings and securedtherein, projecting from the respective sides of the body and fanned outto provide simulated wings; and a shaft extending longitudinally throughsaid body, a leader fitting at-the forward end of said body, having aswivel connection with said shaft at its forward end, and, at the rearend of said body a connection on said shaft for anchoring a fish hook tothe body.

8. A fish lure as defined in claim 7, wherein said body has at itsforward and rear ends, open- I ings through which said shaft extends,said openings having walls functioning as bearings, and said lipfunctioning in the water as a vane tending to cause said body to rotateon said shaft, and said lure including a swivel connection between saidshaft and said leader connection.

9. A fish lure as defined in claim 6, wherein said body has an innerrear end portion spaced from said lip to define a gap, and including aplurality of flexible elements extending into said gap, secured to thebody and projecting rearwardly to simulate a tail.

10. A lure as defined in claim 6, wherein said bristle-like elements arearranged in conical array on the respective sides of the body.

11. In a fish lure, a body element comprising a mollusk shell of theOlividae species, the tail tip of said shell being removed to provide abearing opening of C-shape, said shell having a bearing opening disposedon its major axis at its forward end, and a mounting shaft extendingthrough said openings.

12. In a fish lure, a body comprising a mollusk shell of the Olividaespecies, generally ovate in form, spiral in cross section and having alip projecting at an acute angle to the opposing portion of the body, aleader connection at one end of said body, and a hook connection at theother end of said body.

13. In a fish lure, a plurality of body elements comprising molluskshells of the Olividae species, generally ovate in form, spiral in crosssection and having a lip projecting at an acute angle to the opposingportion of the body, said body elements having openings at their forwardand rear ends, chain links extending through said openings and linkingsaid body elements=together, a

hook connection to the rear one of said body elements, and a leaderconnection to the forward one of said body elements.

14. In a fish lure, a body comprising a mollusk shell, generally ofelongated ovate form, spiral in cross section and having a lipprojecting at an acute angle to the opposing portion of the body, aleader fitting at the forward end of said body, having a swivelconnection with said body, and a hook connection at the rear end of saidbody.

15. A fish lure as defined in claim 6, wherein said bristle-likeelements are tied together immediately behind the rear end of said body.

16. A lure as defined in claim 14, wherein said hook connectioncomprises a series of chain links attached to the rear end of said bodyand extending rearwardly therefrom; said lure further including a fishhook connected to the rear one of said chain links, and a series ofadditional body elements mounted upon respective chain links.

1'7. A lure as defined in claim 14, wherein said body has at its forwardand rear ends respectively, axially aligned bearing openings; andincluding a shaft extending axially through said body and through saidopenings and journalled therein, said swivel connection being attachedto the forward end of said shaft and said hook connection being embodiedin the rear end portion of said shaft; said lip functioning in the bodyas a Vane tending to cause said body to rotate on said shaft.

HENRY A. KUEHNEL.

No references cited.

